• Secure trash in a container with a locking lid and put the trash out on the morning of the scheduled pick-up.

• Never feed coyotes.

• If you meet a coyote, make it feel unwelcome by yelling, throwing rocks and sticks at it, spraying it with a hose or a vinegar-filled water gun or banging pots and pans.

• Make yourself appear to be big and use a loud authoritative voice to keep coyotes away.

Broomfield has not seen particularly aggressive coyote behavior recently, but reports of recent confrontations in Boulder have prompted Broomfield to ask residents to keep their eyes open.

Officials are asking residents to keep an eye on their pets as coyotes enter their mating season and actively roam Broomfield.

Open Space and Trails manager Kristan Pritz said residents should stay aware of coyotes' movements, particularly when pets are involved. When left outside, pets can end up as snacks for coyotes and other wildlife, she said.

Educating people about dangers to pets is a big focus for Open Space and Trails, she said.

"People are amazed to learn that coyotes can jump 6 foot fences," she said. "I love dogs and have two of my own, so I know it's difficult for people to accept. We ask people to bring their pets inside at night."

When out on a walk, dogs also can put coyotes on edge, because the animals tend to be territorial. That sometimes leads to unwanted confrontations between people and coyotes.

Last June, Broomfield officials ramped up coyote hazing efforts after two coyotes followed a woman and her dog in The Field open space. The trail was temporarily closed, and Open Space and Trails employees shot the coyotes with paintball guns as part of a "heavy hazing" effort.

Lately, Pritz said there have been plenty of coyote sightings, but not much trouble.

Residents will likely see and hear coyotes in their neighborhoods, especially because the animals are active during their mating season, which is January through March.

"Coyotes are everywhere, and they are very active in our community," she said.

In Boulder, active coyotes turned aggressive in six incidents between Christmas and the new year. The reports included a cyclist who was chased by an aggressive coyote, a woman who used a stick to ward off a coyote when she was walking her dog and a jogger who was bitten in the calf after she ran from a coyote on the Boulder Creek Trail.

In Broomfield, Pritz said residents should always be diligent about keeping pets on leashes and engage in "light hazing" if they come across a coyote. Hazing can include making noise, clapping or throwing objects to scare the animals and discourage them from becoming too relaxed around humans.

Broomfield is hoping to learn more about the animals and their behavior from an ongoing Denver Metro Area Coyote Behavior Study.

One goal is to learn the best ways to interact with the animals, while establishing clear boundaries between humans and coyotes that can prevent attacks or unwanted confrontations.

Broomfield Open Space gets regular updates about coyote behavior from Stewart Breck, the lead researcher of the study.

A recent update showed the movement patterns of several coyotes who are being tracked as part of the study.

Coyotes near Metzger Farm sometimes wandered as far as Interstate 25, but did not appear to cross paths with coyotes whose home base is near Broomfield County Commons, according to the study.

The territorial animals " are amazing. It's amazing to see their range," Pritz said.

Coyote-human conflicts have been on the rise in the Denver-metro area since 2008. Historically, about one person reported being bitten by a coyote each year, but those numbers have increased as coyotes become less afraid of humans, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokeswoman Jennifer Churchill.

Only one coyote bite was reported to Parks and Wildlife in 2012, but there have been 16 cases since 2008 in which bites were reported. Not all bite incidents are reported to the department, she said.

Many incidents involved suspected feeding of wildlife or the presence of dogs, which can make coyotes territorial.

Broomfield got more involved in research and response to coyotes after an aggressive coyote bit or confronted several children in the Anthem area in 2011.

Coexisting with the animals but keeping a healthy distance is a good rule of thumb, Pritz said.

"Public safety is our concern, but with our policy of coexistence, we believe there is a lot we can do to stay safe," she said.

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